Which items commonly constitute an advance directive in long-term care?

Which items commonly constitute an advance directive in long-term care?

• A. Living Will, Health Care Proxy, or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
• B. Credit score document
• C. Property deed
• D. Work visa

Answer: (A)

Advance directives guide medical care when a resident can’t communicate their wishes. In long-term care, the most common components are a living will and a health care proxy (also called a durable power of attorney for health care). A living will outlines the resident’s preferences about treatments and life-sustaining measures, such as whether to have resuscitation, ventilator support, or feeding tubes, in situations where they can’t express their choices. A health care proxy designates a trusted person to make medical decisions on the resident’s behalf, based on their known wishes or best interests if they are unable to decide themselves. Together, these documents ensure the resident’s autonomy is respected and provide clear guidance to clinicians and family. Documents about finances, like a credit score, or ownership records like a property deed, or immigration-related papers like a work visa, do not address medical decisions or the right to accept or refuse treatment, so they are not part of an advance directive.

Advance directives guide medical care when a resident can’t communicate their wishes. In long-term care, the most common components are a living will and a health care proxy (also called a durable power of attorney for health care). A living will outlines the resident’s preferences about treatments and life-sustaining measures, such as whether to have resuscitation, ventilator support, or feeding tubes, in situations where they can’t express their choices. A health care proxy designates a trusted person to make medical decisions on the resident’s behalf, based on their known wishes or best interests if they are unable to decide themselves. Together, these documents ensure the resident’s autonomy is respected and provide clear guidance to clinicians and family.

Documents about finances, like a credit score, or ownership records like a property deed, or immigration-related papers like a work visa, do not address medical decisions or the right to accept or refuse treatment, so they are not part of an advance directive.